"Hey, Ar... is that Saturn?" asked Dina, her gaze fixed on the giant man standing a few meters away from them.
"Maybe," replied Arya casually. "Gamma only said he was a muscle man, but didn't mention his characteristics."
"Look at his body... two meters? Or two and a half?"
"Two point three meters," Arya replied quickly, without looking away.
The man was indeed striking. He was well-built, towering, with short brown hair, and an aura of arrogance radiating from his every movement.
Saturn turned with a heavy voice. "Are you talking about me?"
"Nothing, sir," Arya replied with a small nod.
"Well then, can we begin?"
"Go ahead." Arya pulled a gun from under his coat. He turned to Dina. "Get out of the way. Like you said... let me handle this."
Dina nodded. "Good luck."
"Just you?" Saturn laughed harshly. "Are you underestimating me?"
"Sorry, I never underestimate my opponents," Arya replied calmly. "But I think... I'm enough."
"You brat!"
With an angry roar, Saturn lunged forward. His body was large, but his movements were quick. However, Arya easily stepped aside, dodging without activating his magic.
"Woo, not fast enough, sir!" he sneered lightly.
Saturn snorted, then lunged again.
(He's repeating the same move? Is he that stupid?) Arya thought to himself.
Once again, he dodged easily. Then, he quickly aimed his pistol.
"Bang!"
The bullet flew, but only bounced off Saturn's hard skin.
"It's useless, kid!" Saturn taunted, laughing confidently.
(He's confident in his body, huh?) Arya grimaced. "Well then... try this. Ice Shot! Fire Shot!"
Both pistols fired, each shooting five cold and hot magic bullets. Saturn was pushed back, but the effect was still not significant enough.
"Insolent brat!" Saturn growled. "Earth Golem!"
The ground beneath them shook and formed a large figure out of earth.
Arya smiled. "Now, this is interesting. Swap!"
His body moved quickly in various directions. "Ice Shot! Fire Shot!"
In a matter of seconds, the golem collapsed into dust.
"What?!" Saturn was shocked. "You... destroyed my golem?"
"I've fought creatures more terrifying than your earth golem."
Saturn roared, activating multiple spells at once. "Earth Golem! Earth Golem! Earth Golem! Earth Golem! Earth Golem! Sand Storm! Sand Suction! Earth Lancer!"
The ground turned into a sandstorm, then sucked everything into the center before throwing a solid earth spear at Arya.
"Swap! Swap! Blazing Bullet! Frostbite Bullet!"
High-powered magic bullets destroyed everything, piercing Saturn's defenses and body.
"Aargh! What the hell is this?! Why is my body hurt?!"
"Muscleheads like you are unaware of your own weaknesses," said Arya. "Like an ant that can bite an elephant to death."
"How dare you!" Saturn slammed the ground. "Tectonic Rage!"
A violent tremor spread like an earthquake.
"Woah! Why is there an earthquake? Swap! Swap!"
"Terra Burst!"
An explosion of earth erupted upwards, attacking Arya's position.
"Hoo... so you can use tactics too," muttered Arya.
"Boulder Storm! Earth Fist!"
Arya dodged and jumped high. "Swap! Blazing Bullet! Frostbite Bullet!"
The combination attack hit Saturn from above, burning and freezing him at the same time.
Saturn screamed, but did not give up.
"Earth Meteor!"
A giant chunk of earth appeared in the sky.
"What is that?! It's huge!" Arya jumped, "Swap!" He drew his katana. "Strength! Fire Slash!"
The flaming sword slashed the meteor in midair, then slid back toward Saturn. "Fire Slash!"
Saturn's body was split in two, but he was still standing.
"Why is he so strong?! Damn it!" Saturn growled.
"Still alive?" Arya frowned. (This guy is really persistent...)
"Earth Meteor! Earth Meteor! Earth Meteor!" Saturn screamed. "I WON'T LET YOU DISTURB MY KING!"
Three earth meteors appeared simultaneously.
"Ar!" Dina panicked. "Destroy them again! We could get hit!"
"Damn it...! Fire Slash! Fire Slash! Fire Slash!"
The three meteors were destroyed. Arya raised his pistol.
"Blazing Bullet! Frostbite Bullet!"
Both bullets pierced Saturn's body. Part of his body was burned, part was frozen... yet he remained standing.
Blood dripped from Saturn's lips. "Damn..." Tears fell from his eyes. "Forgive me... my King... I... failed..."
He fell. Silent.
Arya stared at the giant's body, silent. (Why was he so stubborn? What did it mean to be loyal to such a rotten king?)
Elsewhere, inside the palace...
Sekius, the King, arranged the chess pieces in front of him. "So, Saturn has fallen this time."
Noctis stood silently behind him.
Dina approached Arya. "Hey, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. But... I can't stop thinking about something."
"What is it?"
"Saturn... He fought with extraordinary tenacity. Even though his body was torn apart, burned, and frozen, he still didn't retreat. His last words... were full of regret for his king."
Dina nodded slowly. "Yes, I also feel strange. But... why are you thinking about it that much?"
"Of course I'm thinking about it. What's so special about that king? For him, this isn't just an order. It's as if this is... a game."
"A game?"
"He said, 'Forgive me, my king.' That means he was on a mission. And he was confident he could kill us. Even on the brink of death, he only regretted failing, not fearing death."
"Yeah, I guess..." Dina muttered. (I really don't understand your way of thinking.)
"I regret underestimating him," Arya said softly.
"Never mind, don't think about it. Where are we going now?"
"I want to do something first."
"What?"
"I want to bury him. Properly."
Dina looked at him in surprise. "Why?"
"Men with determination... must respect each other."
Arya gathered Saturn's remains and buried them quietly.
It may not be much, but it was a form of respect for the determination of an opponent.
"All right, let's go now. Come on, Dina."
"Y-yes... (I really don't understand)."
Arya stared into the distance. "After we kill the ruler of Zerio City, we'll head to the capital... There are only four members of the Seven Eclipse left."
"Where will we fight?"
"If possible, the forest would be the ideal location. But if they show up in the city, we'll have to find a way."
"I can't fight freely in the city... there are too many people."
"Me too," said Arya. "Hey, Dina. Stand over there. About ten meters from here."
"Why?"
"I want to test teleportation. See if I can move someone else within ten meters."
"To... move the enemy?"
"Exactly. If we meet in the city, I hope I can teleport them to the forest."
"It's ten meters now."
"Alright. Teleport!"
Light enveloped Dina.
"Woah! Where is this?!"
"In the Azura Forest," Arya replied, smiling. "So it worked, huh?"
"Hm?" A deep voice sounded.
A dragon appeared from behind the bushes. "Why are you back?"
"Lord Noctarion!" Arya and Dina said in unison.
"Oh, it's you."
"I was testing teleportation, sir. To see if I could move other people within a ten-meter radius."
"Teleportation? Isn't the radius fifty meters?" asked Noctarion in surprise.
"Fifty?!"
"Isn't that too wide?" muttered Dina.
"It is. But there are risks."
"Risks?"
"If the living creature being transported cannot use magic, its body will be destroyed."
"What?!" Dina gasped. "Hey Ar! You almost killed me!"
"Calm down! You're a magic user. Only ordinary creatures die."
"What about Gamma?" asked Dina. "He can only channel magic into his threads."
Noctarion nodded. "He's still considered a magic user. As long as he can channel energy, it's safe."
"Thank you, Mr. Noctarion," said Arya.
"Yes, thank you very much," added Dina.
"What about this forest?" asked Arya.
"It's very comfortable. The temperature is suitable, and no one attacks."
"Hahaha, thank goodness. In that case, we'll take our leave, sir."
"Yes, see you later."
"Teleport!"
The light disappeared.
Noctarion sighed softly. "Time to sleep again..."
In the Seven Eclipse room...
Noctis stood staring at the chessboard.
"Saturn is dead. So... who will step forward this time?"
Venus smiled coldly. "That muscle-head is dead too, huh. Too bad."
Jupiter stood up. "I will fight him."
Mercury remained silent. And in the far corner of the room, Gamma clenched his fist silently. "I knew it... My brother is truly amazing," he muttered to himself.